Intermountain Fair Housing Council

HHS Language Access During COVID

U.S. Provides Language Access During COVID-19

Yes, the current U.S. federal administration does not seem friendly to immigrants who need interpreters. But help is at hand. On July 20, the US. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued nondiscrimination guidance for recipients of federal funding, including financial assistance from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). This guidance is important because research shows that immigrants—and racial and ethnic minorities in general—experience disproportionate illness and death due to COVID-19. Finally, a new bill has passed the U.S. Senate to help make COVID-19 resources and support more accessible to those who speak limited English. The CDC and FDA have provided multilingual COVID-19 resources to help those in need that do not speak English, as well as the people who serve them.

Welcome to Your New Home Pamphlet

The Welcome to Your New Home pamphlet is a comprehensive Housing Orientation workbook; each page contains large, brightly colored illustrations of “do’s” and “don’ts” and addresses apartment maintenance, safety and security, mail and notices, being a good neighbor, and energy conservation.

The pamphlet is available in multiple languages and can help orient a tenant to the operation of their apartment and its equipment/appliances.

English | Arabic | Amharic | Burmese | French | Hmong | Karen | Kishwahili | Nepali | Russian | Somali | Spanish

Please Repair Pamphlet 

The Please Repair Pamphlet encourages renters and landlords to effectively communicate about repairs. The illustrated housing repair guide to help refugees and other renters with limited English communicate repair requests in a way that is understood by property managers.

The pamphlet is available in multiple languages and will help a tenant that is limited English proficient communicate repair needs to a property manager without the need for an interpreter. It is designed to be printed double-sided, except the “Report Immediately” page which should be single-sided and on bright colored paper.

English Introduction | Amharic | Arabic | Burmese | French | Maay Maay | Russian | Somali | Spanish | Thai | Vietnamese

Multi-Language Bed Bug Poster

Many property managers have adopted Integrated Pest Management programs that restrict or prohibit the use of sprays and foggers. They are considered ineffective, can spread an infestation, and expose people to harmful chemicals while creating another healthy housing issue. However, tenants and property managers are required to mutually trust, understand, and respect each other’s role in preventing and eliminating bed bugs.

By using the Bed Bug Poster, property managers can encourage all renters to report bed bugs immediately and avoid using foggers or “bug bombs”.

English | Amharic | Burmese | Chinese | Nepali | Somali | Spanish | Russian | Ukrainian | Vietnamese

Bed bugs can affect a tenant’s health, many of whom may not speak English. These are translated posters provided by the Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides (NCAP), the Western IPM Center, and the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County, WA, The Bed Bug Poster has been specially modified here by NCAP so that property managers can add their own telephone contact number making the poster more available to property managers in any state.